Metal-piercing machinery for making hollow bodies.



No. 705,780. Patented July 29, I902.

B. F. MOTEAR.

. METAL PIERGING MACHINERY FOR MAKING HOLLOW BOD IE8.

(Application filed Mar. '7. 1902.)

(N0 Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet I.

m. 705,780. Pate nted July 29, I902.

B. F. McTEAR.

METAL PIERGING MACHINERY FOR MAKING HOLLOW, BODIES.

(Application filed Mar. 7, 1902.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2. 0 Q,

Q INVENTOR, m Q fLZw/ ZZ/i w momma" No. 705,780. Patented July 29, I902. r

B. F. MCTEAR.

METAL PIEROING MAOHlNEBY FOR MAKING HOLLOW BODIES.

(Application filed Hat. 7, 1902.)

- 6 Sheets-hoat 3.

(No Model.)

lNVENTD/i.

WITNESSES."

V nrmnnsng,

No. 705,780. Patented July 29, I902.

B. F. McTEAR. METAL PIERCING MACHINERY FOR MAKING HOLLOW BODIES.

(Apph'cation filed Max. '7 1902.) I

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 (No Model.)

I VENTUR ;w/%

' WITNESSES:

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ATTORNEYSv Patenfed July 29, :902 B. F. MGTEAR. METAL PIERGING MACHINERY FOR MAKING HOLLOW Bil-DIES.

(Application filed Mar. 7, 1902.;

6 Sheets-Sl1eet 5.

Jflurnew.

. (No Model.)

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Patented July 29, I902. I

ODIES.

(Apylicgtion filed 7, 1902.)

I 6 Sheets-Sheet 6,

(No Model.)

' INVEITOR,

Animus WWW W W/TNESSES:

ilNiTnn STATE PATENT Oiimcn;

BALF OUR FRASER MCTEAR, OF RAINIIILL, ENGLAND.

METAL PlERGlNG MACHlNi-ZRY FOR MAKING HOLLOW BODIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 705,780, dated July 29, 1902.

l Application filed March 7,1902. Serial No. 97,131. (No model.)

it has for its object and effect to provide improved machinery by which the metal while the piercing action is being carried on is not subjected to actions or effects which are detrimental to it. Also the pierced shell is readilyremoved from the machine, and the operation I is carried on more expeditiously and efficiently, while the wear and tear of the parts, particularly the dies, and consequently their cost, is reduced and their life rendered longer than is usual in piercing-machines.

According to this invention the die may be said to consist of two parts, and the billet to be pierced lies partly within the front half and partly within the rear part of the die, and these two parts have relative movement with each other during the piercing actionthat .is to say, the 'front end of the metal at the commencement of the piercing operation rests in the front moving parts of the die (which,

say, is in the form of a sliding cross-head) and is frictlonally grasped on the outside edge by gripping collars or devices in this part of or pressureexerted bythe tension-rams,which act uponthe front portion of the die or cross- 1 head, alone causes the piercinmol this part of tiiebiilct, the grip cfthc front end by this part of the die by means as described being sufficient to enable this to be done. Hence the piercing operation is performed both by a thrust of the main ram in one part and direction and a separate pulling action at another part, the coaction of the two being such as to produce valuable effects and results in actual commercial manufacture and employment of this type of machinery, while at the same time the article itself as produced is sound, of good quality, and is a superior article. Moreover, this result is uniformly produced, while at the same time the wear and tear of the dies and parts is relatively small and the operations are comparatively rapid,

The back portion of the die is moved forward by the main forcing-ram through connecting-bars connecting the head of the said main ram-with cross heads or frames on the said die and sliding over and supported on guide-rods, and in this part of the die, in the back part thereof, is a tube of the same dia'meteras the bore of the die, having within "it-a rodor ram, and between the end of this tube and the billet there is a loose short ring tube, which receives the mandrel-head after piercing the billet and at the same, time sup ports the billet at its edge. This tube. is mounted or fixed on the front end of the main ram, its axis being coincident with that of the ram, and the inside ram or bar in this tube is normally forced up by pressure-water from the hydraulic service acting upon a head or part of larger diameter at or near the head of'the main ram, and when the billet is being pierced this ram is forced or kept up and serves as a support to the core or central col umn of the billet; but when the billet is nearly pierced the pressure-water is released automatically by the. travelof theinain ram or 2 other pa-rt say by a tappet "arrangement and the tube ram or bar is free to be pressed back as the mandrel-head perforates the back end of the billet. After the billet is pierced the back part of the die-t. a, the main dieis drawn back by a reversing or pullback ram.

The invention will be further described by the aid of the accompanying drawings.

fchineryis shown in three partsor sections land onithree separate-sheets,thelines A. A

and l3 1% representing the planes at which the i machinery is out. In Figs. 2, 2, 2 aplan of the machinery is shown in three similar parts In Figures 1, 1", 1 a side elevation of matoo vrl

I of machinery in section is shown in three similar parts or sections to those given in Figs.

1, 1, 1 and 2, 2 2 the lines F F and G G representing the plane at which the machinery is cut.

Referring to the drawings, 0 represents the metal billet.

1 is the rear part, and 2 is the front part, of the die, the front part 2 being in the form of a sliding cross'head.

3 represents gripping devices in the form of semicircular shoes in the front part 2,whieh grip the front end of the billet 0, they being pressed onto this billet by small rams working in hydraulic cylinders 4 on the front part 2 of the die and at the upper and lower sides thereof.

5 is the back stem-rod, and 6 is the piercing bulb or tool on its end,th'e rod being supported at its back end by the thrust-block 7, carried on the main back thrust-frame 8 of the machine.

The back thrust-frame 8 is connected with the front frame 9, carrying the main piercing hydraulic cylinder and parts by rods or bars 10, two of such bars being above and two below.

11 is the main piercing-ram cylinder and 12 is its ram. The ram has on its outer end a cross-head 13, throughwhich the four bars 10 pass and which serve as supports and slides to this ram and the parts connected with it. The outer part or die case 14, which carries the die proper, 1, has projecting bosses 15 upon it, and the shafts 10 pass through to these bosses and serve as supports and slides to the die, and this die-case is connected with and is moved by the cross-head 13 of the ram 12 by an upper and lower connecting-rod 16, the'ends of which are fixed in bosses 17 on 5 the die-case 14 and bosses 18 on the crosshead 13. What the movement of the head 13 is, therefore, so will be the movement of the rear part 1 of the die.

The front part 2 of the die has bosses 19,

:0 similar to those of the die-case 14, which slide on and are supported by the rods 10, and this front part is pulled normally toward the thrust-frame 8 hydraulically by pistons 20, working in cylinders 21, fixed in the back of :5 the thrust-frame 8, the two pistons 20 being connected up with the die 2 by the piston-- rods 22, a cross head or frame 23, supported and working on the slide-bars 24, andcoupling-rods 25, connecting .the cross-head 23 o and the die 2 together. The back ends of the cylinders 21 are supported in the bearingframe 26, which carries also one end of the supporting-bars 24 of the sliding cross-head 23, and the connecting-bars 25 pass through the thrust-frame 8, which acts as an inter mediate support to these coupling-bars 25.

The return stroke of the main piercingram 12 and the rear part 1 of the die is effected by'theram 28, working in the cylinder 29, disposed on the back end of and in line with the main ram-cylinder 11,.the ram 28 being connected with the main ram cross-head 13 through a cross-head 35 on the end of same and coupling-rods 30, connecting the crosshead 35 with the cross-head 13. v

With regard to the means of supporting the back end of the billet O longitudinally in the back, end part of the die 1, this comprises a cylinder 31, fitting in the die 1, a tube 32 between the end of the cylinder and the back of the billet, and a ram-or rod 33, fitting in the cylinder 31 and adapted to slide up and billet 0 becomes supported longitudinally by the annular cylinder 31 and ring 32 on its outer edge and centrally by the ram 33. The use of the tube 32 is, that by employing pieces of tube of different lengths billets of 'dilferent lengths may be operated upon the apparatus without any adjustment or alteration of the machine.

The operation is as follows: The billetO is placed in position in the rear part 1 and the front part 2 of the die, wherein it is gripped by the grippers 3, and pressure-water is admitted to the cylinders 11 and-21 and 33, the 'efiect of which is that the cross-head 13 is forced out, and with it the dies move forward onto the bulb 6 and the billet isforced over it. As the metal begins to pass over the bulb 6 the metal so displaced has all to pass in the direction of movement, and when the bulb '6 has penetrated so as to lie within the rear die 1 and the metal has to be squirted in this form over the surfaces of the die and the bulb it is assisted by the pull forward of the front die 2 by means of the hydraulic rams and cylinders 20 21. The pressure of the pull of these rams, however, is so limited as to be within that which would strain the metal in its heated state or put such a tensionon it as would be a deteriorating one. All this time, however, the die holding the billet and the longitudinal support consisting of 'the ring and cylinder 31 32 and ram 33,;aremoved together, so that the unpierced portion of the billet O is stationary in the dieybllii' the pulling action is efiected by the front die or gripper 2, and its rams assist the squirting operation, and the whole piercing operation di minishes friction and does not hurt the die, but tends to make its life longer. Also the total friction is smaller and the pull actually assists in the piercing action. The operation is therefore erformed by a thrust andippll coaeting. hen the metal billet O is a1 is p '2' perforated, the water in the cylinder 31 is released, so allowing the nose of the bulb 6 to press the ram or bar 33 back as it passes through the billet and to pass beyond the plane ofthe billet end, while at the-same time the billet is held up by the ring 32 and'cylinder 31 at the outer part. In' the piercing action when the bulb 6 is nearly through the billet the forward movement of the main ram 12 may be stopped and its direction of motion reversed by the pull-back ram 28,- the result being that the back die 1 is also pulled baclnland placed ready for a further operation. Meanwhile the forward die part 2 will draw the billet O the remaining portion it has to move to become completely pierced over the bulb 6 and subsequently strip it out of the back die 1-. When the pierced body is completely out of the die 1, the water from the gripping-cylinders 4 of the front die 2 is released, so that the billet can be removed.

The frictional resistance offered by a die in billet-piercing machinery to the outflow o r squirting of the metal from it is enormous. By pulling the metal over the mandrel-nose and stripping it out of the die, as described, this friction and its deteriorative incidental sheets are wholly or very largely obviatedthat is, instead of the tube itself having to force itself out of the die it is. assisted by being pulled out in addition to the pushing or extruding pressure. Also by this mode of operation and the arrangement-0f machinery the duration of contact of the hot metal with the die is short and the injurious effect of the die is relatively very small. Moreover, the metal is not unduly cooled and can be further operated upon with the same heat.

As no water or other cooling medium or action is employed in connection with the die and ejection of 'the tubularshell, injury of the die by cracking or breaking of the surface or otherwise, as well as cooling of the shell,

is obviated.

In cases where water is used in the die for ejecting the shell or tube the die is frequently rendered useless in a few days, very often by cracks and the chippingofi of parts due to the coolingaction, besides causing.a great consumption and waste of time in getting the shell out. I i

By the mandrel being supported from the adjustable rod-head, as described, in the case of short shells or tubes being made a short mandrel or back stem-rod can be used, and at the same time by adjusting ont'the adjustable supports and using a long mandrel or stem-rod long shells or tubes can be made.

In any event the length of the die proper is short in relation to the length of the shell or tube which can be made, while billets of different lengths for making diiferent lengths of shells or tubes may be employed by the use and introduction of intermediate ring-pieces 32 of smaller or greater length between the billet and the end of the supportingtube 31 at the back of the die.

. The converse mode of using the means above described consists in moving the back piercing-stem rod by means of the main pierc- .ing-ram, while the back end portion of the die'proper is stationary. The front portion of the die in this case, with its gripping devices, will be moved away from the back portion, as above described. The back end of the billet would be supported similarly also, as described above.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In piercing machinery for making seamless tubes or hollow bodies, a front die part and means coacting therewith to receive and hold the front portion of the metal to be pierced, a rear die part adapted to receive and holdfthe rear portion of said metal, and axially in line with said front holding-die part, and a piercing-tool, said die parts and tool being adapted to be moved relatively longi tudinally; substantially as described.

2. In piercing machinery for making seamless tubes or hollow bodies, a die part to receive andhold the front portion of the metal to be pierced; a gripping device in said (lie part, adapted to grip the front portion of the metal; a rear die part adapted to receive and hold the rear portion of said metal, and axially in line with said front holding-die part; and a piercing-tool; said die parts and tool being adapted to be moved relatively longitudinally; substantially as described.

3. In piercing machinery for making seamless tubes or hollow bodies, a front die part for receiving and holding the front portion of the metal to be pierced; a rear die part adapted to receive and hold the rear portion of. the

said metal, and axially in line with said front holding-die part; a hydraulic cylinder and ram connected with said front holding-die part, adapted to move the said die part away from the rear holding die part and a pierclug-tool; substantially as described.

- 4. In piercing machinery for making seamless tubes or hollow bodies, a front die part to receive and hold the front portion of the metal to be pierced; a reardie part to receive and hold. the rear portion of the said metal, and axially in line with said front holding die part; a hydraulic cylinder and ram connected with said front holding-die part, adapt ed to move the said die part away from the rear holding die part; a hydraulic cylinderand ram connected with and adapted to move the rear holdingdie part in the same direction as the front holding-die part; and a piercing-tool; substantially as described.

5. In piercing machinery for making seamless tubesor hollow bodies, a piercing-tube, a die adapted to receive and hold themetal to bepierced; a tubular support disposed said tubular support-cylinder;

support in said rear holding-die part, having a hydraulic cylinder at its back end, for supporting the outer part of the back end of the metal longitudinally; a ram within said tnbular support for supporting'the center porden of the metal longitudinally, and adapted to be held up by hydraulic pressure within and a piero ing-tool, said die parts and'tool beingadapted to be moved relatively longitudinally; substantially as described.

7. In piercing machinery for making seamless tubes or hollow bodies, a piercing-tube, the combination of the rear moving die parts 1, the front moving die parts2, and a tubular support 31 within the die-1'; substantially as set forth.

8. In piercing machineryformaki'ngseam-' less tubes or hollow bodies, .a-p iercing-tube',

the metal die 1., themainpiercing-ram 12 and cylinder 11, and the cylinder 31 disposed between the ram 12 and die 1, and its front end working within the die 1, substantially as set forth.

9. In piercing machinery formaking seamless tubes or hollow bodies, a piercing-tube, the metal-die 1, the main piercing-ram12 and cylinder 11, the cylinder 31 disposed between the ram 12 and die 1, and its frontend working within the die 1, and the ram 33 disposed in thecylinder 31, saidram 12 and die 1 being connected together; substantiallyas set forth.

10. In piercing machinery for making seamless tubes or hollow bodies, the rear metalcontainingdie part 1, the main pressing-ram 12 and cylinder 11; .a head 13 on said ram 12, separated from but connected with thedie 1; the supporting-tube cylinder 31 between the head 13 and die 1; the front die part 2-; the cylinders and ram 21, 22,.connected with the die 2 for moving it in relation to the die 1;

and a piercing-mandrel 5; substantially as set forth.' In witness whereof- I have hereunto set my hand in the presenceof two witnesses.

V BALFOUR FRASER. MCTEAR Witnesses: ,7 a

,. LONA. GOODALL, i

- -LEONARD TRAWLEY 

